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The powerful influence of music on young children=s develpomentBy: Boniface Mouti Recently I have been watching my one year old daughter Sabina and her love for music that she just can=t let it go by flying her hands up once she hears the beats either from the radio or TV. This happens all the time, and it is more interesting to see immediately how her facial expression changes to sudden happiness even when she is gloomy and protesting to her milk. She will riot each time she is given food and nobody takes the pain of singing as she takes her meal. She can hardly take her afternoon naps if there is nobody to sing her tune of lullaby. It just leaves me fascinated. Whether it is at home or in childcare, music has a power that goes beyond words. The pleasure of sharing music builds connections between parent and child as sounds and rhythms surround the child in a world of sensations and feelings. Music also offers a joyful and rewarding learning experience and nurtures a child=s imagination and creativity. Music is everywhere B in the clap of hands; the coo of a baby; the sound of the wind moving through the trees and raindrops falling on a roof; and, most of all, the treasured songs of your family. No special lessons or fancy equipment are necessary to enjoy music. It is all thereY in you and your babyYwaiting to be shared. The first three years of a child=s life are a very special time during which parents and babies can make beautiful music together and can use this music to build powerful connections with each other. The mutual joy experienced by parents and children as they share musical moments strengthens their bond. That bond will be a child=s model for close relationships throughout life. Connecting with your baby in a musical way just comes naturally. Throughout the world when parents speak to their little ones, they adjust their voices to make them more lyrical, more rhythmicYin short more musical. When your baby responds, a kind of duet happens, reinforcing the love and trust you share. Music is also a unique and powerful way for children to connect to their roots. It makes the baby get introduced to the family heritage in a way that goes beyond words or pictures. And connecting to roots is another way to make a child feel safer and more secure. Young children love to share music with others. They use sounds, movements and facial expressions to interact. A familiar song will help a baby feel safe and secure in an unfamiliar setting. In a sense, songs become every bit as important and powerful as a beloved teddy bear or a blanket. Music plays an important role in establishing routines. The same song sung each night at bedtime becomes part of the transition from waking to sleeping. Toddlers love to make up songs and dances by themselves and a long with others. They often sing to themselves for comfort. You might hear them sing a lullaby, for example after you have kissed them goodnight. It=s their way of keeping you with them. So how do we go about this business? Above all, sing or hum to your baby! Research carried out shows that babies prefer their parents= voices over anyone else=s. no matter how you may think you sound, your baby will be your most eager and adoring audience. Babies enjoy watching people move to music. Act out the songs that you sing with your hands and body movements. Sing a special lullaby to your baby before she falls asleep, perhaps one that you remember from your own childhood. She will learn to connect this lullaby with sleep time. This also a way to share the stories, rhythms, and melodies from generation to generation. Dance with your child. Play some musical objects B even a rattle and dance to the rhythm. This will bring our babies closer to us and will go a long way in their personal development. He is your child and is entitled to everything that will contribute to his personal growth and positive development. It is a challenge but out of love for our children we have to take it head on. Email: rehofo@yahoo.com
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